Lindblad Expeditions? company logo is a stylized eye, reminiscent of the eye of an ancient Egyptian mummy. "It stands for a different way of looking at the world, with more of an in-depth perspective," according to Lindblad Expeditions' founder and chairman, Sven-Olof Lindblad.

The 18-year-old eco-expedition company (1998) could easily have chosen a Zodiac to symbolize its travel philosophy. An essential component of almost every Lindblad Expeditions? adventure, these rubbery runabouts bring travelers nose-to-nose with nature in some of the world?s most exotic regions.

But they are not the "small boats" Lindblad Expeditions has in mind when it says "a small boat can make a big difference." Most of the company?s two dozen or so itineraries are based on ships dwarfed at the docks by the cruise industry?s "small ships." Lindblad Expeditions largest is the 120-passenger Amadeus; the smallest, the 30-passenger river yacht Hapi.